A Stranger Lies There Read Free

Who do you think is electing the politicians, so they can continue selling guns to the very people they’re putting into office? Not you and me, brother. It’s companies like Rand and the bankers that finance them who are in bed with those fuckers in Washington. It’s blood money, man. It deserves to be taken, to get someone like Duncan elected so he can fight for the causes we believe in.”
    â€œWhat about all the people who’ve put their savings in that bank? What do we say to them when their money is gone?” Greg asked.
    â€œIt’s all insured Greg, you know that,” Ellen answered. “They won’t lose a dime, the government will pay it all back.” She smiled and turned to Turret. “Far as I’m concerned, that’s another plus to this idea. We’ll be sticking our hands in big government’s pockets.”
    Turret agreed. “That’s right. This is win-win all the way. We hit the warmongers where it hurts, help get a few of our comrades into office, and make the government pay for it all at the same time! It couldn’t be more perfect! All we gotta do is have the balls to get it done, to fight for what we believe in.” He paused for emphasis. “You guys have what it takes? Or you gonna let others do your fighting for you?”
    Things got quiet. Turret sat back down, letting us chew on everything he’d said. On TV the riot continued unabated. We watched an armored vehicle clip a protester, who, luckily, was able to get up and limp away. The newscaster said the school had made an announcement barring all future protests or campaign speeches on campus, and that all classes through the end of the semester had been canceled, as a girl on-screen was beaten bloody by a cop. The baton didn’t stop even after she fell to the ground.
    â€œLooks like Kent State all over again,” Ellen said, shaking her head, then turned to Turret. “I’m in,” she promised, and the admiration in her eyes when she looked at him nearly broke my heart.
    â€œDude,” Rory said, addressing Greg. “We talk the talk, we should walk the walk.” Then, to Turret: “Count me in.”
    Greg shook his head slowly, trying to convince himself.
    â€œWe get a free pass here in college,” Ellen said to him. “You feel good about that?”
    Tense silence, before Greg stood up. “I can’t do it, guys. Not this way.” He started for the door.
    â€œHey Greg,” Turret said sternly. “You wouldn’t sell out your friends, would you?”
    â€œThey know I wouldn’t do that,” Greg replied, making clear where Turret stood with him. He left without looking back, closed the door quietly.
    Turret wasn’t happy. “Can we trust him?” Frustration wrinkled his forehead.
    â€œOf course,” Ellen answered. “Greg’s stand-up.”
    â€œHe still live in the same place?” Turret asked.
    â€œI’ll talk to him, Glenn. Don’t worry,” Ellen said.
    Turret held her gaze without blinking, went over and looked out the window. Then he turned to me and spoke, hands on his hips, voice tight. “That leaves you.”
    I wanted to get up and follow Greg out the door. I wished I had his courage. Ellen regarded me with a doubtful expression, like she expected me to disappoint her. The fact that she wasn’t trying to convince me said a lot.
    â€œWhen do we do it?” I asked, and Ellen’s warm smile almost erased the doubts in my mind.
    Turret came over to shake my hand. “You’re doing the right thing,” he said. Then he sat down next to Rory and laid out the plan.
    We’d do it on Friday. The bank would have lots of cash on hand for payroll checks. Three of us would go into the bank armed, the other would wait in the car with the motor running. Pretty standard, it seemed. Except we couldn’t decide who got to stay outside. We finally settled on